Artist: Marie EllenriederImage from Wikimedia Commons
This, by Karen Armstrong, is so wonderfully expressed:
“Theologians in all the great faiths have devised all kinds of myths to show that this type of kenosis, of self-emptying, is found in the life of God itself. They do not do this because it sounds edifying, but because this is the way that human nature seems to work. We are most creative and sense other possibilities that transcend our ordinary experience when we leave ourselves behind.”
It's from her book, The Spiral Staircase: My Climb Out of Darkness.
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There is that word "transcend" in there--it is a word which always fascinates me. Why is it we only transcend ourselves when life has knocked us down in some way? There are those who seem to be wise beyond their years who appear to live a transcendent life, but often if their whole story is known they too have gone through a dark period in their lives that I assume she is referring to as a self-emptying. By the same token is our world so broken because so many are experiencing a self-emptying without experiencing a transcendence? Have we lost advisers/mentors to guide them through or at least to serve as beacons of hope? Is the point to be strong enough to guide yourself through alone?
ReplyDeleteThere is much to think about in this brief quote.
Carolyn L.
No, we have not lost advisors or mentors to guide or to serve as beacons, but we must be the ones who seek those guides and beacons out when we know we need spiritual support or succor. I have always found this to be the case. They don't just show up on my front door.
ReplyDeleteannie c
Annie, I've thought a lot about what you said and at first I didn't agree. Kept thinking about the Buddhist proverb that says, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." (correct me if I'm wrong please, Ellie). I've been very fortunate in my life that teachers did appear at times when I was ready. However, I kept thinking and realized you are very right. It would have been easy for me to walk right by those teachers because it was too difficult or too inconvenient, etc. Thank you for making me look at it a different way.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn L.
Thanks for the comment Carolyn, and yes, it does seem sometimes almost miraculous that people "show up" when we need them, but they do not usually ask us if we would like to make an appointment with them!
ReplyDeleteannie c